LOTS of Layouts to Share

I started posting layouts and other digital creations on a new blog and I also plan on adding FREE templates and tips for anyone interested. I got side tracked with the busy life of three kids and the holiday season but hope to get back on track and keep it up this year. We are still on Holiday Break and RJ starts back to school next week. Hopefully things will be back on track then. Here is the link to my Scrapbooking blog: http://jensdigitalcreations.blogspot.com/ Save it and Share it!

But since I haven't shared any pages for awhile on either blogs I will get caught up and share some pages here and then from here on out most of my pages will be shared on my scrapbooking blog and this one will just be our family journal.

This layout was published in the Ready Set Create eMagazine issue Sept/Oct 2009
It tells the story of RJ's bus experience when we first moved here.

Assignment: New Years Resolution
Supply List: here
I have been wanting to learn how to make delicious chocolate truffles and
I plan on learning and being an expert by the end of the year!

Assignment: Make a Craft
Supply List: here
The picture is kind of yellow but the clock turned out pretty cool!
It was one of RJ's Christmas gifts.

This layout was made for one of ScrapGirls 12 days of Christmas Freebie.
The white flower was the freebie.
Supply List: here
The Christmas tree is my Grandmother's it has always been one of my favorite trees.

Assignment: Favorite Christmas Memory from Past Christmas
Supply List: here
Journaling: Your Great Grandfather Bartley went into surgery just before Thanksgiving to have some cancer removed from his stomach. He had his ups and downs with the recovery and was still in the hospital during Christmas. One of his friends brought him this puppy to cheer him up a little. He wasn't too impressed at first. But when visitors did come to visit he showed them his dog and they had a kick out of it. One day he told your Great Grandmother to find a puppy just like it because he wanted you to have one. And so after a few store searches Grandmother finally found one. This was your first Christmas and your Great Grandfather's last. This will always be a special puppy!

Assignment: Use 3 Scrap Simple Products
Supply List: here

Assignment: Use scanned photos
Supply List: here
These are photos of my Grandparents during their engagment

Assignment: Thanksgiving
Supply List: here

These pictures were form our first thanksgiving here in VA. We had just moved into the new house three days before so we bought a Thanksgiving dinner from the grocery store.

Assignment: create a layout about yourself
Supply List: here

Look Who Got a Hair Cut.....

Zachery HATES getting a hair cut, we put it off as long as we can then cut it as short as I can allow so it can grow for awhile before we have to fight him for another hair cut. This is Zac's 3rd hair cut and he did much better. Hopefully this will be a sign that his next cut might be easier. Zachery not only hates having his hair cut, but he hates having anyone play with his head and he absolutely hates having water dumped on his head, which makes bath time a challenge as well.

Mmmmm ..... Fondue

This is our second year enjoying the delicious food at The Melting Pot with some of the great friends we have made in Virginia. It is a tradition we have looked forward to all year long and were excited when December arrived so we could pick our date for a fun filled night of good food and LOTS of laughter! (I stole these pictures off Jessica's blog, thanks for being our photographer!) Can't wait till next December when we can do it again. The group

Jared and I

Dacy and Ryan

Clay and Jessica

Lauren and Chris


And here are some pictures of our yummy experience:

The dessert plate (aka the best part!)

We dipped our dessert in a Peanut Butter Smore mix. This dip is to dye for!

Our second dessert pot held the flaming Turtle (caramel and pecans)

Delicious!!!

Our little miracle of kindness

I feel very humbled and blessed. We have had a struggle with unexpected challenges lately. First the keys were lost. In the process of getting new keys, our emergency brake was broken (and AAA still won't fix it), then earlier this week our heat went out. After calling an electrician we were excited to learn it was just a breaker. So it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. But unexpected bills and the Christmas season adds a lot of extra stress.

Yesterday we opened a letter in the mail from a secret Santa, who gave us some unexpected cash. Upon receiving the donation, my heart was humbled tremendously. I feel extremely blessed and thankful. I know that the Lord watches over us, no challenge is too small for Him. He loves us and blesses us. I can't express my deep gratitude for the individual who was so generous. I pray that he/she will be blessed for their kindness and I thank my Heavenly Father for His great Love and blessings.

Christ lives and loves us! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party

Guess who just turned 30 .........

He did!

I wanted a photo of Jared blowing out his 30 candles on top of his delicious mint ice cream cake, but I realized a little too late that my camera wasn't in my hands :( hopefully some friends have that on their camera.
We celebrated Jared's birthday and had a wonderful Christmas party with friends on the 19th. The children dressed up in costumes and performed the Nativity. We hope to possibly make this a yearly tradition. It was a terrific evening.

Here are the Shepherds and Narrator:

Zachery was our sheep:

The 3 Wise Men:

The Angels:

Mary and Joseph:

Mary on the birthday boy as the donkey:

Mary and baby Jesus:

The full cast:

And here is our 1st Nativity Christmas Play if you are interested in watching it.